Lidl chicken

[Cetti]

I had what was a very delish prepared chicken curry from Lidl and was saying just how much chicken there was compared to a Sains curry, but then I noticed - Chicken from Brazil and yet another said 'from Thailand'. Being a total wimp I immediately threw it in the bin thinking I could be eating meat from an animal I won't mention here - but was I wrong to be worried? I imagine German standards are pretty high, but I don't think I will be buying any more prepared chicken dishes. Any thoughts?

[237SJ]

I`d be dead by now if all the meat from abroad was that lethal. There isn`t really anything to be worried about but the concern would be (if it bothers you) how ethically reared the animals are.

[SeaJayPea]

Apparently, Thailand supplies a lot of chicken to the catering trade here. It's cheaper than home-reared because, allegedly, they don't adhere to any kind of standards regarding ethical treatment of animals. Having seen Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's documentary about the way chickens are treated here, if they're worse, I dread to think what must go on.

[jomifl]

Farms in South East Asia don't just breed chickens, they do a nice line in innovative viruses owing to their strange animal husbandry practices. I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot (3.3 metre)pole.

[237SJ]

If you`ve eaten large prawns in a restaurant or bought the large, raw frozen ones from somewhere such as Sainsburys, they`re from Vietnam. You can`t farm or fish for some things in this country for the price that people want to pay.

[shoota]

I'm sure they're fine.

[lyj-e1]

"You get what you pay for"

[Cetti]

Yes, 2shortplanks, I'm thinking four legged and companion type furry animal! Perhaps my imagination is a mite too overactive, but it's put me off chicken toally now as I know the UK hasn't a good record of treating chicken well, so I dread to think of the living standards and hygiene in South America and Asia.

[lilyflower]

I can't imagine that there is something wrong with it. As you said Lidl is a german company so all the products have to be controlled by german and european standards. Even at the import there are controls. So I rally think that you overreacted. But I mean that's my opinion...

[ummmm]

Wouldn't they still have to meet our minimum standards to be allowed to be sold here?

[Cetti]

Yes, you're right, I had a lovely reply from someone at Lidl's and they said all their food has to meet British as well as EU standards, so it is safe, but doesn't have to be of the highest standard - just ok.

[jomifl]

Cetti, does that mean that the bacteria levels in the food is monitored or that the paperwork conforms to EU regulations. Not all Asian officials adhere to the highest standards of honesty.

[EDDIE51]

Almost all chicken for things like curry and pies comes fron Brazil or Thialand. It is much cheaper than chicken from Europe.

[Cetti]

jomifl - I would imagine both. I do hope so, as I've just bought some more. If you don't see me again you will know the reason why!!!

[lesley_fife]

I worked with a company that supplied food for a chicken processor . I was told that when a company supplied a cooked chicken product there is tighter control on its processing than if it is supplied to the consumer raw.
I have been using frozen cooked chicken ever since .On the odd occasion I do buy a raw chicken I store & cook according to guidelines but I get stomach upsets.